Estacion Filipino Food

Estacion Filipino Food – Authentic flavors. Lively nights. Mixed value.

Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino restaurant and karaoke lounge; ~$15–$25 per plate; weekend buffet around $32.99; $10 cover on live music nights.

Menu Highlights:
– Pork sisig – crowd favorite in party trays; dine-in quality varies (sometimes fatty)
– Lechon kawali – consistently crispy and flavorful
– Pork BBQ skewers – sweet-savory glaze; occasionally served not hot
– Chicharon bulaklak – rare find in Durham; pairs well with their house vinegar
– Pancit and lumpia – popular for parties; pancit seasoning varies by batch
– Dinuguan – appreciated for not being malansa
– Halo-halo – often praised as a solid dessert finish
– Hot wings – crispy with a sweet-chili dip
– Weekend breakfast/lunch buffet; some mains come with free sinigang

Service Highlights:
– Warm, accommodating, family-style service; responsive on Facebook Messenger
– Cozy, homey vibe with an upstairs dine-in/lounge area
– Live band and karaoke nights add energy and community feel
– Licensed bar for beer buckets, wine, and cocktails; QR-code menus with tablet ordering
– Party trays get strong feedback for taste and presentation

Notes:
– Prices are on the high side for the area; some feel portions don’t match cost
– Weekend buffet (~$32.99) felt not worth it to some diners
– Inconsistency pops up: sisig can be fatty/not sizzling; one report of off smell
– Occasional execution slips: BBQ served cool, dry tapa, fatty binagoongan
– One phone order (goto) wasn’t sent to the kitchen; ordering system needs tightening
– Seating can feel cramped when busy; loud during live music
– Import beers and buckets are pricey

Logistics:
– Parking lot available, but no direct entrance from the lot; you have to walk around
– Upstairs lounge/dining not wheelchair accessible
– Live music nights have a $10 cover per person

Customers come for the comforting staples—lechon kawali that crackles, sweet-savory BBQ skewers, hearty pancit and lumpia—and many say the flavors feel home-cooked. The halo-halo gets repeated shoutouts, and party trays for sisig and pancit are a hit for gatherings. There’s even chicharon bulaklak, which folks in Durham don’t often find, plus dinuguan that diners mention isn’t malansa. The vibe is cozy and welcoming, with friendly staff who make people feel at home and respond quickly on Messenger. On weekends, the place livens up with live music and karaoke, a QR-menu setup, and a full bar pouring beer buckets and cocktails.

Diners enjoy the energy and hospitality, although the experience can vary. Some people love the sisig—especially in trays—while others say dine-in orders came out too fatty or not sizzling, and one group even noted an off smell. A few meals had execution hiccups like BBQ served cool or tapa on the dry side. Prices strike some as fair, but others call them steep for the portion sizes, with a few finding the weekend buffet not worth the tag. Late-night outings with a live band add fun, but seating gets tight, the noise ramps up, and the $10 cover plus pricey import beers can make the bill climb.

Logistics can also shape the visit. There’s a parking lot but no direct door from it, so people walk around to enter. The lounge is upstairs and not accessible for wheelchairs. Ordering is generally smooth—especially for party trays—but one customer mentioned a phone order that wasn’t passed to the kitchen, which left a bad taste. Overall, diners come for the familiar flavors, the rare chicharon bulaklak, and the lively community feel, while keeping an eye on consistency and cost.